What Inspires You: An Interview With Pooping Rabbit.

1.  Little Bear (honey eater)        2. What I Am Capable Of

1. Please tell us a little bit about what you do. 


 "Making art is how I make sense of the world and my forgotten childhood. Observing my own anxieties and awkwardness I create visual narratives that examine loneliness, responsibility, and choice.
In my work innocence and vulnerability are represented by children and animals. Creating visual narratives that explore this through their interactions and sometimes combining them by the means of Anthropomorphism. These stories unfold in the space between memory and nostalgia, and focus on the tension between youth and maturity. In my sculptures, composed of discarded stuffed animals sewn over taxidermy forms, I am observing how childhood and adulthood circle one another. The forms usually used as hunting trophies have now become the mementos of a lost childhood."

Weighted Down By Childhood Memories

2. In your artist statement on your website, you mention some of the dichotomies your work explores. Among them are, "How childhood and adulthood circle one another" and "tension between youth and maturity" in reference to specific sculptures. Would you please expand on this concept a bit?


"Sure, like specifically in the piece "Weighted Down By Childhood Memories" this idea is layered with that concept. Starting with the title itself, which comes from an adult view point reflecting on the past. The piece itself is made from a taxidermy form, which I have covered in plush toys rather then a pelt of an actual live animal. Taxidermy is an adult idea, a trophy to remember a specific experience. One could argue that a stuffed animal represents the same thing for a child, the one he one at the ring toss at a carnival, or left by the Easter Bunny. So both child and adult experiences are being represented. In the net is collection of stuffed toys (the same that make up the bobcat form), the rope is taught, but is the animal pulling the net or is he being pulled into a trap. I wanted the tension to be evident and also be a link of both view points, adult/child."

Fragments of Family Loss and Decay

3. In reference to your 2D work, you mention that you personify your animal subjects- showing personality traits we have in common. Giving animals a voice, and visa versa, connecting traits of animals with people is not a new concept in terms of history, and yet your work appears crisp, gives a certain newness to the concept through subtle detail, eye contact with the viewer, etc. Would you please detail some of your intentional choices to inform this subject through your work?

"You are right Anthropomorphism goes all the way back to the Egyptian drawings and is not new concept, but I appreciate you noticing a modern take within my work. 
It's funny because most people say after meeting me that the children's faces in my drawings often resemble my own, and that the faces of the animals vary in personality more then the kids. I always think its a great observation and maybe the aspect that people connect to in the work.
I think specifically with the "slings and arrows" and "little animal" series you can see where the personality of the child is expressed through the animal. These tough girls in sweet little dresses, influenced by the presence of strong females in my life. in the painting "Little Wolf/ Faithful Mate" I've gotten a lot of comments that the girl has a line backer build, and she looks awkward in the dress. Some may be saying that as a negative comment I guess, but I am really glad when people say that, because it totally illustrates what I am doing. It's like that tough tom-boy girl who hates wearing a dress... that slumped, uncomfortable posture, we all have met this girl before."

Stretching My Identity

4. Keeping our work fresh means constantly seeking new sources of inspiration. Where do you look to find it and/ or what kinds of sources most inspire you?


"As for inspiration. In both my home and studio I have one wall the is dedicated to inspiration. Photographs, clippings, friends art and some objects that I just relate too. I honestly used to try not and look at too much art online as it sometimes was disappointing to see someone exploring the same concepts, but the Jealous Curator and her blog (www.thejealouscurator.com/blog/), helped change that for me. 
I also love looking at old antique stores and thrift stores. Rummaging through old photographs also gets my mind wondering what was happening to this person at this point in time. Why did someone want to remember this moment? Why did someone throw it out?
Music is also another big inspiration for me. My brother LOVES music and he sends me stuff all the time, I don't care who is singing, I just have to connect to the words- which sometimes I "illustrate" in my work or become the starting point (title) of a piece."

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Want to see more?

Find Pooping Rabbit on:

Etsy  *  Website